Mind and body seem to be in a constant struggle for dominance within us. Our hedonistic society rewards dopamine-driven satisfaction increasingly from a very early age in children’s lives. Adults, on the other hand, are only one click away from satisfying most of their desires as long as money is not an issue. This is the era of happiness seekers, and words such as sacrifice and discipline are largely forgotten in everyday discourse.
One of the major struggles of the 21st century is how a person can regain control over their own life. After Nietzsche’s “death of God” era, nothing seems capable of offering transcendent aspirations for a meaningful life. It is striking to see that suicide remains among the four leading causes of death for people aged 15–21, according to the most recent World Health Organization report posted in 2021. In a society driven by immediate pleasure, long-term and transgenerational projects that require willpower and focus seem increasingly out of reach.
The lack of self-control is deeply connected with the modern phenomenon of dopamine addiction. Some examples of dopamine addictions in the 21st century include instant gratification in online shopping, the consumption of pornography and sexual online content, social media overuse and screen dependency. These are just a few examples of major contemporary challenges related to the loss of self-control — all of which can easily manifest in the way people use their money and time, often leading them to neglect meaningful personal connections and core values. Therefore, it is crucial to keep close at hand some strategies that help us move from the era of the weak man to the self-controlled man.
The first step is to acknowledge the synergistic relationship between mind and body. There was a time when highly respected academics and businessmen avoided physical exercise, considering it a “luxury of time.” Nowadays, research shows more clearly than ever that a highly productive society requires healthier bodies. We see more and more CEOs using their time to practice some type of physical activity. The condition of the car’s frame matters just as much as the engine. Mind and body function together and must be recognized as a synergistic system.
To strengthen this synergy, your first duty is to know yourself better. It may seem obvious that a person knows themselves well, yet many students have no idea about their own learning style, circadian rhythm, the specific nutrients that enhance their cognitive performance, the dopamine triggers that affect them, and much more. If you truly want to gain mastery over yourself, you need a high dose of self-awareness: your motivations, your underlying psychological patterns, the triggers behind your procrastination and your hidden drivers. People commonly refer to these as “blind spots,” and they are genuinely hard to see at first. This is why time invested in psychological therapy, visits to nutritionists, leadership coaches and self-help literature is worth it. The price of knowing yourself is high, but it will profoundly affect your ability to channel your energy in the right direction and take control of your life.
A second strategy is to start with an excuse. Instead of saying “I have to do this big, important activity today”, say “I will just start a small ‘escape’ for my daily routine by walking five minutes because the weather today is good and five minutes will not change anything in my schedule today”. This refers to the snowball effect of engaging in something that seems small at first but pushes you forward over time. For example, you may hesitate to begin a gym training program. In your mind, you probably imagine the perfect scenario: the right outfit, the perfect sunny day and a completely free schedule. The truth is that these conditions will rarely align. Recognize that, and instead of waiting to have the “perfect date” with yourself, take the next five minutes after finishing this article to do something beneficial for your health. Take a walk, do some push-ups, squats or breathing exercises. The specific activity matters less than the action itself. Once you break the cycle and do whatever is within your reach, those five minutes will encourage you to continue.
There are many pieces of advice that can be given, and even though it is becoming harder to regain self-control, ultimately, before you can rule your body, you need to submit yourself to God. The era shaped by Nietzsche’s “death of God” left humanity powerless to find higher motivations and aspirations, and without these, there is no meaningful reason to pursue improvement in one’s life. Surrendering yourself to God places your path in the context of eternity, and any desire you have to change your life becomes increasingly meaningful when seen through the vision of spending eternity in the presence of God.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.